SLIDE 1
Data as News: Journalists Experiences in Seeking and Using - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Data as News: Journalists Experiences in Seeking and Using - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Data as News: Journalists Experiences in Seeking and Using Databases of Public Records Ira Chinoy Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
SLIDE 4
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
SLIDE 5
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
SLIDE 6
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
SLIDE 7
How journalists use databases of public records The language of databases Elements of data requests Obstacles, from the requesters’ perspective Core issues Alternatives to case-by-case confrontation?
SLIDE 8
SLIDE 9
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS
NAME DATE OF BIRTH EMPLOYER NAME DATE OF BIRTH INFRACTION NAME DATE OF BIRTH EMPLOYER NAME DATE OF BIRTH INFRACTION
SLIDE 10
SLIDE 11
SLIDE 12
SLIDE 13
SLIDE 14
SLIDE 15
SLIDE 16
SLIDE 17
SLIDE 18
SLIDE 19
SLIDE 20
SLIDE 21
CNS stories using databases of public records:
Consumer complaints Prison violence Boating safety enforcement Train accidents Amusement rides Subprime loans Unsolved homicides Leaking underground oil storage tanks Campaign finance Lawyer discipline
SLIDE 22
SLIDE 23
SLIDE 24
Terms:
“database” “relational database” “tables” “records” “fields” “codes” “queries” “joins”
SLIDE 25
SLIDE 26
SLIDE 27
SLIDE 28
SLIDE 29
SLIDE 30
SLIDE 31
SLIDE 32
SLIDE 33
SLIDE 34
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 35
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 36
SLIDE 37
SLIDE 38
SLIDE 39
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 40
SLIDE 41
SLIDE 42
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 43
SLIDE 44
SLIDE 45
SLIDE 46
SLIDE 47
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 48
Database and spreadsheet programs have their own unique file types (.xls, .mdb…). But data can easily be moved between
- ne file type and another by exporting and
importing it in standard formats: “dbase” (.dbf) “comma-delimited text” “fixed-length text”
SLIDE 49
SLIDE 50
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 51
Generally, when copying a database, copying ALL DATA is LESS WORK than copying SOME DATA In other words, providing all records in the database is less work than limiting the request to one or a few years
SLIDE 52
Making requests
Background Database Electronic Copy Documentation Format Redaction News purpose Waiver Fees
SLIDE 53
Copying and redacting fields from a database with 1,000 records is the same amount of work as copying and redacting fields from the same database with 100,000 records
SLIDE 54
SLIDE 55
SLIDE 56
SLIDE 57
SLIDE 58
SLIDE 59
SLIDE 60
SLIDE 61
SLIDE 62
SLIDE 63
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 64
We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 65
We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 66
We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 67
We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it. There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 68
We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it. There are confidential records mixed in. We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 69
We've never done that before. We don't know how to do that. It takes too long. It costs too much money for us to do it. There are confidential records mixed in. We don't think you'll understand the data / technology, you'll mess it up. We'd love to give it to you but it violates our contract with the software company.
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 70
A Maryland Case
Documentation Fields Format Cost Time Waiver Fresh set of eyes Data and a story
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 71
Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 72
Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 73
Certainly, many databases are complex But many are not.
SLIDE 74
Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 75
Education, training, experience, support. “Show me.” Does “Go away!”really serve the agency’s interests? What is in the public interest?
We don't know how to do that. We don't know how to do that.
SLIDE 76
Are there alternatives to case-by-case battles?
SLIDE 77
Are there solutions at the broad policy level?
SLIDE 78
Policies already require: Environmental Impact Statements Fiscal Notes Set-Aside Programs & Diversity Checklists How about: Public Records Assessments
- r
Information Impact Statements
SLIDE 79
A challenge and an opportunity . . .
SLIDE 80
Ira Chinoy
Philip Merrill College of Journalism University of Maryland ichinoy@jmail.umd.edu http://bit.ly/Ira_Chinoy
SLIDE 81
SLIDE 82
SLIDE 83
SLIDE 84
SLIDE 85
SLIDE 86
SLIDE 87
SLIDE 88
SLIDE 89